10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,571 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Oct 102012

Escape 6-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
Was driving cruise control down the highway when the gas pedal lost affect. The car would no longer accelerate. I stopped on the side of the highway and it was shaking. I shut the car off and restarted it. Worked fine the rest of the day. I know its something to do with the throttle body. It has done it maybe 200 times since then and almost caused a serious car crash the last time.

- Del City, OK, USA

problem #56

Apr 222013

Escape

  • 55,000 miles
I had to get the throttle body replaced on my 2009 Escape because the car engine would disengage and the gas pedal would stop working. The car would coast to a stop and I would have to shut it off and cut it back on to get it to re-engage. This happened ever couple of days for a few weeks and then I took it to the dealer. The dealer has had my car for almost a month and claims that there was a bad production batch that caused a national backlog of parts. The call center has been unresponsive and Ford is claiming that I have to pay full price for the part even though I have been without a car for nearly a month.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #55

May 192013

Escape

  • 65,000 miles
In September of 2012, I had a problem with the ability to accelerate completely gone when I was going 40 mph in a crowded intersection. The wrench light came on. I got into a rite aid parking lot and called the dealership (my vehicle was still under warranty). They told me to try to restart it and see if the wrench light turned off. It did not and I could not restart the car, so I had it towed in. They told me the battery had died and once it was replaced they couldn't recreate the throttle issue so they couldn't fix that per my warranty. Then 3 weeks ago, I got off the expressway. And about 10 minutes later the car did the same thing. It was a very dangerous situation because there are no places to pull off this particular road and the speed limit is high. I got half in and half out of the lane and restarted it. I was able to get back home and I called the dealership the next day. They told me it was the throttle body and apparently are willing to fix it without the wrench light now because I am no longer under warranty (65000); however the part is on national back order. This same "national backorder problem" occurred two years ago when my transmission in the same car quit working and I was in a rental car for 7 weeks! the problem has recurred 3 times now, and they have cleaned the throttle body, but still no signs of a part. This is a very dangerous problem and I think Ford needs to be held accountable for the inability to stand behind their products.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #54

May 312013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the throttle body needed to be replaced however, the dealer stated that the part was not available because it was being re-manufactured. The contact did not call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 76,000. Updated 07/23/13

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #53

Nov 152012

Escape

  • 73,000 miles
While driving on a busy highway my car stalls out and shuts off forcing me to pull over and turn the key to off position, waiting several minutes before allowing me to turn the car back on and having to rev the engine for it to turn completely over. A couple miles down the road while coming to a stop or slowing to a stop the car does this again. This will happen about 4 times a day while driving and will happen for about 2-3 days, then will run like it should without incident. About 4-5 months later it will start up again, while driving the car will stall out and this happens several times a day while driving, for a few days. I've taken the car to autoshops to try and figure out the issue and no one seems to be able to detect the problem. This not only is scary, but extremely dangerous.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #52

May 302013

Escape

  • 74,000 miles
We had seen some issues with power when accelerating, but was minor until May 30th, 2013. We were driving in stop and go traffic and when I accelerated the engine "bogged down" and didn't accelerate. The car wouldn't move forward. We had just filled up and originally believed it was bad gas. It happened about 4 more times as we got home (engine light was on and little wrench icon shows up on bottom left of dash when the problem occurs). It did this about 5 more times on our drive home. I took it to the local Ford dealer which informed me that the throttle body was bad and needed replaced. I then googled: Throttle 2009. The first thing that appeared was the Ford Escape and the articles described what I was dealing with too. From what I can tell today, Ford is releasing a (new engineered designed) throttle body that should be available June 6th and I have to wait for so that I don't get another bad part. I find it ridiculous that they are basically admitting to producing a defective part, but I have to pay $400 to fix my car...while waiting a week for the new part to come in.

- Gladstone, MO, USA

problem #51

May 152013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 64,670 miles
While driving on a busy freeway in houston my car jerked, the wrench light lit up, then would no longer accelerate. I was able to get over the shoulder of the freeway, but the car would not move after that. It stayed on, but was bouncing up and down. I had to have my car towed off the freeway. Once towed, we turned the car off and back on and it ran fine. I took it to a local mechanic the next day and was told everything looked fine, I drove it the following day. On the freeway, it happened again. I immediately took it to the Ford dealership, where I was told the throttle body needs to be replaced, but this part is on national back order with no delivery date in sight. Ford has been giving me the run around since last week regarding the part and rental assistance. My husband and I were advised by a Ford service manager that the car is still "drivable, " however, the problem will happen again. He told us when it does, to simply turn the car off and back on and it should run fine for a short time. I expressed serious concern regarding this advice as houston streets and highways are extremely busy. To date, I have received no assistance and no more information on when this part will be available.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #50

Nov 282012

Escape

  • 34,000 miles
First incident occurred end of November, car stalled while traveling on rte 7 in ct. Brought the car to Ford where I was told the diagnostic box registered the issue was with the fuel sensors. The fuel sensors were replaced and the car had no issue until April. In April, car stalled again. I brought it to the dealer and the box did not register anything. Last week (May 21st), I left my office to go on lunch break and the car stalled 4X. I drove (?) the car straight to the dealer which is less than a mile away. The car registered that it was the throttle body issue. Since this is a well known issue with these cars, the part is back ordered with an unknown completion date. The dealer then cleaned out my current throttle body and told me that this was a temporary 3 mos fix. This morning 5/29, the car died again 4X on I-95. 2 of the 4X it stalled, I was in near accidents. This is a widely documented issue with Ford and it's incredible to me that there hasn't been a recall on these cars. This is a very serious safety issue.

- Norwalk, CT, USA

problem #49

May 282013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
The vehicle suddenly lost power, wrench icon and check engine light came on. Car lost all mobility and use of gas peddle. Luckily was on a street and not a highway. After turning the car on and off the car appeared to be working normally. Several minutes later the condition repeated itself, and then once again several minutes later after turning the car off and on again. Took car to get error code and returned a P2112 error code referencing the throttle body. This is an extremely dangerous defect, and could easily have caused a serious wreck if at high speed. Or intersection. Car is currently at the dealer.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #48

Apr 282013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 127,000 miles
I was driving along when my vehicle began to sputter and stop. I was able to crank the vehicle up and drive a few feet before it started back up again, this time with the check engine light on. I was able to make it to an advanced auto parts store where they pulled the check engine error code and it indicated that it was an issue with the throttle body. I am able to drive it currently, but I am concerned that the throttle will stick just as I'm attempting to cross a busy intersection.

- Fairhope, AL, USA

problem #47

May 262013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
I drive a 2009 Ford Escape automatic with a V6 engine. On Sunday, May 26, 2013 at approximately 1:00 am, I was driving at 70 mph on interstate 10 West. Suddenly, I heard a single click sound. The wrench was illuminated on my dash board and the accelerator pedal stopped working. No matter what I did, nothing happened. I was terrified that I would be rear ended by the cars behind me for slowing down suddenly, so I put on my hazard lights and moved to the interstate median. I turned my truck off for a few minutes and then restarted it. I was able to proceed home with no further issue. This whole incident came with absolutely no warning. If a light indicating that service was needed, I could have avoided this nightmare. I am now learning that there is a defect with this vehicle.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #46

May 122013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 55,063 miles
Truck failed to accelerate from a red light, with pedal completely engaged. Had continued loss power/thrust when I push the gas. This happens so often now, I am not comfortable driving in heavy traffic as I never know if I'll be able to accelerate. Sunday after finally getting home, I was unable to get it to stay cranked when I depress the gas pedal to reverse. This loss of power was exuberated by having the A/C running. First the timing cover leaks at 22, 761, then a pulley falls off the engine at 40,149 spraying oil all over my interior via the A/C. after the pulley was replaced the car would idle high and then started jerking as if it wanted to stall, took to Ford dealership and was told there were no codes, finally had the tech drive with me and he felt the jerking. After three visits for this, in November 2012 at 50,000 I was am told the coil pack needs to be replaced, now at 55, 063 miles I am told it is the throttle body that needs to be replaced" I think I was sold a lemon and in the state of Florida that's illegal. What if I am rear ended due to the horrible craftsmanship of your product"

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #45

May 012013

Escape 4-cyl

  • 54,000 miles
Entering interstate, car would not accelerate above 40 mph. Code reader says throttle control stuck open?

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #44

Mar 152013

Escape 6-cyl Diesel

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the vehicle surged suddenly while driving under 30 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated the throttle body would had to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #43

May 112013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 72,800 miles
While driving the vehicle there is frequent surging and stalling with eventual result in a nonresponsive gas pedal. The check wrench service light and the engine light were illuminated and the vehicle would become responsive again if the engine was turned off then back on. After restarting the vehicle would soon begin to surge and stall again.

- Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

problem #42

Aug 312011

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Fall of 2011, I noticed that my gas pedal was not always responsive. Coming off a stop or low speeds, the gas pedal would not respond until after I had pumped it and pressed it nearly to the floor, then my Escape would take off, squealing tires and all. I noticed it a couple times on the highway as well, slowing for a curve and then unable to promptly accelerate coming out of the curve. Then one day I was on the highway and the gas pedal was completely unresponsive, and my car just completely shut off. This was really bothering me because there were multiple times I felt like I was going to get hit when I couldn't accelerate out of an intersection. I took the vehicle back to hastings Ford, and after multiple appointments and keeping my vehicle for several days, they were unable to confirm or repair anything. I kept driving it for a while, the same issues still happening, and then after the second time the car shut off on the highway, and after consulting a relative who is a former Ford mechanic, I brought it to another dealership. They kept the car the max number of days they were allowed to without repairing anything, and found on the last day that it was a faulty throttle body. The replaced the throttle body but the issue still lingers. And I also feel a short vibration in the pedal nearly every time I accelerate from a slow or stop. I still do not feel the issue is fully resolved. I still consider my throttle body to be defective.

- Lexington, MN, USA

problem #41

May 042013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
Stopped at light, went to acceclerate to go on green light and had no acceleration. Turned vehicle off and it restarted, went immediately to Ford.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #40

Apr 232013

Escape 6-cyl

  • 40,300 miles
I was stopped at a red light and when the light turned green I pressed the accelerator but the engine seemed to have stalled. I did have slight forward momentum that was jerky and I was able to pull off to the side of the road. I turned the car off, sat for a few minutes, then tried to restart the car. The car did start and no warning lights were on the dashboard. I was able to drive to my subdivision without incident but once I turned into my neighborhood the car stalled again. The car was then towed to my Ford dealership where I was told the throttle needed to be replaced. Since the throttle is considered an electrical component it was not covered under the powertrain warranty. The bill was approximately $670. I was not told this was a common incident in my model and year of car.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #39

Feb 112013

Escape

  • 50,000 miles
Vehicle stalled when attempting to accelerate after stopping at a light. Vehicle would move approximately 3 mph. Wrench symbol and engine symbol lit up in the display area. Drove (very slowly) vehicle into a parking lot. Shut off vehicle, restarted it, and did not get engine "rev" when depressing gas pedal. Approximately 30 minutes later, the vehicle started and operated normally. Had vehicle towed to repair shop (didn't trust it to drive it). Shop inspected the vehicle in a number of ways the next day and could not reproduce or identify the problem. They said that the on-board event recorder did not record an event. That was the first incident. The 2nd and 3rd incidents occurred today, April 24 2013. Vehicle again stalled while attempting to accelerate at an intersection. Wrench symbol and engine symbol lit up in display area. Pulled into a parking lot, shut off vehicle, and then it started again and ran. About 2 minutes later, the vehicle stalled while driving approximately 40 mph. Again pulled off the main road and restarted the vehicle. Was able to drive it the remaining 3-5 minutes to get home.

- Murphy, TX, USA

problem #38

Apr 282010

Escape

  • 16,000 miles
While driving down the highway, 45mph zone, I noticed the accelerator was having no effect, however the tach was still showing the engine running. I coasted off the road and while the engine was running it was not connected to the transmission. As I do with my computer, I turned off the car waited a short while and turned it back on......everything seemed to work fine, but of course I took it to Ford as soon as possible. It was diagnosed as a throttle body assemble malfunction and was repaired under warranty. It has happened twice since then, the last one being out of warranty and costing me 1000 dollars. Three throttle body assembles in a car not 4 yrs old with still less than 30000 miles on it.

- Naples, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »